That footage could start its on thread here! Personally after watching the footage of them getting rescued the conditions in the back ground even though along side the ship it looked quite favourable for a sail.
I'm guessing all the action happened at night when things always feel worst and they hit the panic button not thinking in the light of the day that they could easy get that boat back to land!
I would wonder if they lashed the wheel or left it free helming when they went below in the storm....this could answer the damaged rudder however it seamed balanced enough in the video of there rescue I'm sure they could of jury rigged something and headed to the nearest land fall.
I read all the threads on the Cruising world forum....quite a bit of bagging going on. However there is a video of there rescue, the rigging and sails looked in great shape. If I had no insurance I would not leave a floating vessel..... They where an English couple.
Made me shake my head as well Ace. That mast was certainly a lethal weapon to the crew on board the tanker. Can,t really criticize the abandon ship call, they actually climbed up into there life raft
Ok this is the wreaked yacht before it got wreaked! Compare it with the vid with the mast slapping which boat would you prefer to be on? They didn't deploy there fenders in this rescue!
